The Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation (the “DBR”) recently proposed Insurance Regulation 117, Insurance Issued to Trusts and Associations (the “Proposed Regulation”), in order to “protect the public from a regulatory vacuum by ensuring that insurance issued or renewed in Rhode Island through a trust or association is adequately regulated.” 
Read More Rhode Island seeks to close Regulatory Vacuum in Issuance of Group Policies to Trusts and Associations

Neles-Jamesbury Inc. v. Pohjola Ins. Co. Ltd. involved a breach of contract action between a Massachusetts-based insurer, Neles-Jamesbury, Inc. (“NJI”) and a Finnish reinsurer, Pohjola Ins. Co. Ltd. (“Pohjola”). Pohjola provided worldwide reinsurance coverage for Metso Oy, a Finnish corporation, and its subsidiaries. NJI was acquired by Metso Oy, and Metso Oy requested that Pohjola provide gap coverage for NJI during the acquisition period. 
Read More Massachusetts District Court Grants Reinsurer’s Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction

Earlier this month, Representatives Charles Boustany (R-La.) and John Larson (D-CT) introduced the Medical FSA Improvement Act of 2011 (the “Act”) in the House of Representatives.  The Act aims at increasing participation in medical flexible spending accounts (“FSAs”). 
Read More House Representatives Aim at Abolishing “Use It or Lose It” Rule for Flexible Spending Accounts

This updates our May 13, 2010 blog posting.  Last month, the New Jersey legislature passed the “Reinsurance and Surplus Lines Stimulus and Enhancement Act” (A2670, the “Act”).  The Act amends state law to permit surplus lines insurers domiciled in New Jersey to write surplus lines insurance in the state.  This would make New Jersey the second state in the U.S. after Illinois to allow its domestic surplus lines companies to write insurance in the home state’s surplus lines market. 
Read More New Jersey Passes Legislation to Ease Restrictions on Surplus Lines and Credit for Reinsurance

Nikolaus von Bomhard, chief executive of Munich Re AG the world’s largest reinsurer, views insurance protection against the risk of nuclear incidents as unaffordable for insurers and power plant operators, according to a recent interview he gave in the German national Sunday newspaper Welt am Sonntag
Read More Nuclear Risk Too Expensive To Underwrite?

Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty of the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (FOIR) has announced the appointments of Al Willis, Steve Szypula and Toma Wilkerson to new positions within the FOIR.  Willis will now be the acting Deputy Commissioner for Property & Casualty.  Previously he was the Director of Life & Health Financial Oversight.  Szypula will now be the acting Director of Property & Casualty Financial Oversight. 
Read More Florida Insurance Commissioner Announces New Staff Appointments